The first time United fans saw Law score for the Reds was on 18 August 1962, on his debut against West Bromwich Albion. He was to repeat the feat a further 236 times for United, many of those celebrated with what became his trademark – arm in the air, hand clutching his sleeve, finger pointing at the sky. It was a move recreated on the playground by thousands of children up and down the country, no matter their allegiance.
Law’s journey to Old Trafford followed a long and winding road. Starting off at Huddersfield Town in 1955, he signed for Manchester City for a British record fee in 1960 and moved to Torino, in Italy, the following year.
He didn’t take to Italian football and, one year later, Matt Busby enticed him back to Manchester – this time to play in the red of United. By that point, he was an international regular, having been handed his first Scotland cap in 1958, at the age of 18.
A goalscorer in the 1963 FA Cup final as United defeated Leicester City 3-1, it was his sixth of the tournament. He was just getting started. Thirty goals in 41 games, in the following season, saw him finish as United’s top scorer again as the Reds won league titles in 1965 and 1967.
He was a member of, and scored, for the Rest of the World side that played England in the Football Association Centenary match at Wembley in 1963 and, a year later, was presented with the Ballon d’Or after being named European Footballer of the Year.
Devastatingly, injury deprived him of a place in the 1968 European Cup final side. Law was recuperating in a Manchester hospital, following an operation on his injured knee, as his team-mates were defeating Benfica, 4-1 after extra-time at Wembley. The following day, he had a bedside visitor – Matt Busby, along with the European Cup.
The United side of the time struggled to match the highs of Wembley and, with Tommy Docherty installed as the new manager and the rest of the 'United Trinity' – Best and Charlton – now departed, Law rejoined Manchester City on a free transfer in July 1973.
The final goal of his career came towards the end of the infamous derby match when his backheeled shot gave City victory and compounded United’s already confirmed relegation. This touch was his final one in league football as he asked to be substituted immediately, cutting a forlorn figure as he left the field, mobbed by invading Reds. Denis later talked about this incident, admitting: “I have seldom felt so depressed as I did that weekend.”
